Plain Dealer Article on Nursing Care- MUST READ

[RN Power Ohio]

Hi All,

In the Plain Dealer was an article about Nursing Quality in Ohio Hospitals. The "vocal group of Ohio nurses" is the National Nurses Organizing Committee. We are preparing to introduce ratio legislation. This article does misrepresent the actual ratio bill but at least it mentioned! We are also disappointed that NNOC was not mentioned or interviewed.

NNOC is the largest organization of direct-care nurses in the US! I encourage all nurses to write the PD and let them know about patient care and how nurses who speak up about unsafe conditions are targeted by their employer!!

This is our chance to speak out! As far as HB 346 goes- it will not require that even one more nurse be hired to increase staffing. The ONA takes the postition that "something is better than nothing" That's advocacy for nurses???????????

http://blog.cleveland.com/medical/2008/04/northeast_ohio_patients_dont_g.html

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Long fight ahead for nurses in any state to see decent ratio laws passed like California has. Even 6:1 would be a blessing in some facilities. Most of the time I feel like the PTB for facilities and the so called representatives for nurses are too cozy with one another and have no real interest in improving patient care or nursing issues.

Oops! There goes my foot in my mouth again. I am sure to be flamed by many for that last statement.

[RN Power Ohio]

No flaming from me!

It may be along fight but this doesn't mean that it doesn't need to be done. With other nurses associations introducing ratio's the odds are improving.

Ratio bills are introduced in Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona, Texas and next year in many other states!

The more we speak out the more likely we are to be successful! Come on OHIO NURSES let's do it!

www.calnurses.org/nnoc/ohio

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Agree fight needs to be done and push needs to continue until goals are reached.

Did not know Texas was looking into ratio laws. Sort of hard for me to believe Texas facilities will ever care what issues their nurses face everyday. Friend has been a nurse there for a few years. Left facility for insurance, could not take that hassle.

[RN Power Ohio]

It is not the facilities that are looking into ratio laws but rather the RN's who are demanding it!!! In fact the Texas Nurses Association and the Texas Hospital Association are fighting tooth and nail!

There are THOUSANDS of RN NNOC Activists in Texas who are fighting for ratio's. In fact just last week NNOC won an NLRB election- the first hospital EVER to be unionized in the state of Texas!

Read more about the community activism and huge victory for Texas Rn's and Patients

www.calnurses.org/nnoc/texas

While you are at it get a copy of the Ohio Ratio Petition!

www.calnurses.org/nnoc/ohio

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

I understood nurses were fighting this fight in Texas. I was just stating facilities down there seem to have a poor attitude towards nurses and nurse concerns. Friend was so sick of his job before he left he almost gave up on nursing. He said staffing on his floor was a nightmare, 9 or 10 to one a most nights, 2 CNA's at most, and no clerks or other anciliary help. This was an oncology floor so chemo, blood and pain meds were heavy.